Photo: thibaudaronson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-bellied Comet
Taphrolesbia griseiventris
Grey-bellied Comet (Taphrolesbia griseiventris) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey-bellied Comet (Taphrolesbia griseiventris) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 8.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Taphrolesbia
- Species griseiventris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.9 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-bellied Comet is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Grey-bellied Comet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey-bellied Comet (Taphrolesbia griseiventris) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA nw Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.9 g, with a wing length of about 7.8 cm and a tail of around 8.5 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4,115 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-bellied Comet?
The Grey-bellied Comet is a very small bird that weighs around 8.9 g.
Where does the Grey-bellied Comet live?
The Grey-bellied Comet is found across South America with a range covering SA nw Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Grey-bellied Comet belong to?
The Grey-bellied Comet (Taphrolesbia griseiventris) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Grey-bellied Comet eat?
The Grey-bellied Comet is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Grey-bellied Comet migrate?
The Grey-bellied Comet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey-bellied Comet endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Grey-bellied Comet make?
1 real field recording of the Grey-bellied Comet — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Grey-bellied Comet's range?
The Grey-bellied Comet has a mapped global range of about 4,115 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Guides for this bird
Best Hummingbird Feeders
How to choose a hummingbird feeder — the two main styles compared, the right sugar-water mix, and how to keep it clean so the birds stay safe. A decision framework with the hummingbird species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Trochilidae
A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.